Tier 1 National Org

By Shane Clausing CKOM Saskatoon

Saskatoon bus drivers and transit workers will be getting some more help when it comes to keeping themselves and passengers safe.

The City of Saskatoon’s two-year budget, which was passed by council last week, included $482,000 for a targeted support program to help address common concerns.

While details are still being developed, the president of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 615 said community safety officers will be present on buses and in the terminals of the routes currently experiencing the biggest issues. The program is slated to begin in mid-2024.

“This is something we’ve been trying to lobby for quite some time,” Darcy Pederson said.

To start, Pederson said there will be six officers spread out across the city during the hours when transit workers are seeing the most incidents take place.

According to Pederson, bus drivers have had to do endure a number of different issues.

“We’ve been seeing all kinds of violence on the buses and different terminals as well — everything from verbal abuse, the physical attacks, bear spray to knives,” he stated.

Pederson said the program isn’t a new idea, and other cities across the country have already implemented similar programs.

“Some cities have the ability to arrest people and give out tickets, and some have the ability to just remove the situation from the bus and call police, and some properties just don’t have anything at all, like we do right now,” he explained.

Pederson said the powers the officers will have still needs to be worked out with the city as it begins to implement the program.

He’s hopeful the move will change things for good.

“I’m hoping this is a step closer to making sure our operators can come to work and feel safe at work and go home safely to their families,” he said.

“We’re seeing assaults weekly, and it needs to stop, and this is one of the first steps to addressing it.”

ORIGINAL ARTICLE CKOM SASKATOON

Drivers afraid to come to work, says local union president.

Saskatoon transit drivers say they are subjected to a litany of abuse by their passengers, from fare-disputes to aggressive behaviour and even assault.

Darcy Pederson, president of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 615, which represents transit drivers in Saskatoon, said drivers are scared to go to work due to alarming cases of violence on buses.

"They're getting kicked, punched, spat on, threatened and bear-sprayed," he told CBC's Saskatoon Morning host Candice Lipski Tuesday morning. "We've seen, in recent months, knives and guns on the buses as well."

Pederson said the attacks have been random and are becoming more violent — not only against transit operators but also against the riding public.

This year, Saskatoon bus drivers have reported 31 incidents where they have had negative interactions with passengers, according to the city. These include acts of aggression, verbal altercations, intoxication, assault and discharge of bodily fluids.

"Transit agencies just don't care about front-line workers, as it appears they believe that violence is an occupational hazard, which is far from the truth," Pederson told CBC in an earlier statement. 

On Tuesday, Saskatoon Mayor Charlie Clark said he believes violent incidents on buses are linked to the city's toxic drug crisis.

"Saskatoon in many ways is a place that more and more people from across the province end up coming to because we have more services," he said. "It is overwhelming our systems."

Clark said the city needs more supportive housing to help people with complex needs.

"We really need help from the provincial and the federal government to be able to meet the needs of people who are struggling right now," he said.

He added that the city has increased patrolling efforts and is installing safety shields to protect bus drivers. 

The city also aims to expand its community support officer (CSO) program on July 1, putting CSOs in targeted areas and on bus routes that see the most incidents.

Pederson said that's a start, but that the city needs to have zero tolerance for physical and verbal abuse of drivers. 

"We need to make [drivers] aware of the situations that are taking place and provide some extra training, mental health and addiction-support training, and stronger enforcement of the Criminal Code," he said. 

The City of Saskatoon said in a statement to CBC News that incidents on public transit are increasing all over Canada.

ATU and SFL sound Alarm Bells as Saskatoon Transit
Fails to Respond to Escalating Violence on Transit System

For Immediate Release

SASKATOON-SK, April 23, 2024 – The Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) and the Saskatchewan Federation of Labour (SFL) are sounding the alarm bells once again as violence against transit workers escalates out of control. With assaults occurring almost daily, the silence from the City of Saskatoon transit administration is deafening. “Transit agencies just don’t care about frontline workers as it appears they believe that violence is an occupational hazard which is far from the truth,” says Darcy Pederson, President of ATU Local 615.

The assaults are increasingly becoming more violent – and are not just against transit operators but also against the riding public. 

Over the last couple of months, we have seen an uptick in violence on transit workers ranging from workers being spat on, sprayed with bear spray, being punched and kicked. As violence continues to escalate across the city, some of these troubling situations or individuals make their way onto our transit system, putting passengers at greater risk of being assaulted or making them feel unsafe. 

“The protection of all workers in Saskatchewan needs to be a priority for all employers. We all deserve a safe workplace free from violence and acts of intimidation,” says Lori Johb, President of SFL.

The ATU is extremely concerned with the lack of response from Transit officials who have remained silent, when in fact, the issue should be front and center. The installation of driver safety barriers may be a deterrent but don’t go far enough. The ATU has repeatedly asked for a National Taskforce to tackle transit violence. We need Saskatoon Transit to step up to the plate with its Union partners and implement immediate measures to curb transit violence.  ATU believes stronger enforcement of the criminal code, mental health and addiction support, along with increased visibility of enforcement officers can also act as deterrents.

“This is a complex issue that requires multi-levels of stakeholders to come together and establish best practices to minimize worker and rider exposure.  We understand that we cannot eliminate all acts of violence, but we ask the employers to take every reasonable precaution and practice to keep workers and riders safe,” says John Di Nino, ATU Canada President.

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SOURCE POST

By Brody Langeger - Global News 

A passenger was stabbed on a Saskatoon Transit bus Wednesday near the intersection of Broadway Avenue and 12th Street East.

Saskatoon police say an 18-year-old man was transported to the hospital in stable condition.

Saskatoon Transit said the transit operator wasn’t injured, but post-incident support is available to employees.

“An increase in negative incidents on public transit is a Canada-wide issue,” Saskatoon Transit said.

Saskatoon Transit recorded 124.5 negative interactions per one million rides this year.

It said negative interactions include incidents involving intoxication, verbal altercations, aggression, assaults, bodily fluid, harassment, fare disputes and road rage.

“Since negative interactions began to rise, uniformed Saskatoon Transit supervisors have been riding on routes, which have greater frequency of negative interactions. Last month, more than 100 supervisor ride-alongs were performed across the Transit system.”

Saskatoon Transit also pointed to the Saskatoon Fire Department and Commissionaires, saying that an enhanced community support officer program was being implemented by the fire department this summer and that increased security patrols were recently added to the Downtown Transit Terminal, Market Mall and Confederation terminals.

ORIGINAL ARTICLE GLOBAL NEWS

By Mia Holowaychuk CKOM Saskatoon

The Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) is sounding the alarm after alleged assaults on bus drivers have become increasingly violent in recent days.

Darcy Pederson, the president of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 615, said there have been six incidents reported in the past two weeks with an uptick in altercations involving bear spray, punching, kicking and spitting.

He noted areas such as downtown and Confederation are hot spots for these incidents.

A statement from the city’s transit administration acknowledged the negative interactions, stating that all incidents are taken very seriously.

According to city statistics, so far this year, there have been 31 reported incidents involving bus drivers including acts of aggression, verbal altercations, intoxication, assault and bodily fluids.

Recorded negative incidents on Saskatoon Transit. (City of Saskatoon)

The City of Saskatoon’s two-year budget, announced in November, included $482,000 for a targeted support program to address transit concerns.

Set to start on July 1, community support officers will be present on routes where incidents occur most frequently.

Pederson said the program is a good start, and the purpose of officers will be to form relationships and help find support for those who need mental health, housing or addictions help.

But the union head noted the presence of the officers isn’t the solution. He suggested having enforcement officers as well to assert the Criminal Code and the Saskatoon Transit policy on physical and verbal abuse.

“We need to have the ability just like the libraries do to ban those that are causing these issues on the buses,” Pederson said.

Last year, 110 metal barriers with sliding Plexiglas were installed on city buses, which Pederson said has helped protect drivers, but assaults outside of those walls still happen.

“We’re also seeing assaults of people randomly reaching around the barrier with bear spray and spraying the bus operator,” Pederson said.

“(...

By Rory MacLean Web Jourlist CTV News Saskatoon

Saskatoon Transit is renewing calls for its own dedicated team of community support officers (CSOs) to help respond to incidents on buses and transit terminals.

On Tuesday, administration is asking the city’s transportation committee to approve its plan to put six new CSO positions up for deliberation in the next multi-year budget, at a cost of $278,600 for 2024 and $204,000 for 2025.

Administration says the support officers would provide a presence on buses, liaise with customers, develop relationships and manage incidents.

Transit administrators started exploring options for support workers on city buses in April,following reports of escalating violence and mental health-related incidents on public transit.

RELATED STORIES

• 'It's horrible taking a bus in this city': Saskatoon councillors commit to funding transit social support workers
• Saskatoon councillors consider hiring social support workers for city buses
• Saskatoon bus drivers facing 'major crisis' of escalating violence, union says
• Saskatoon investigating reports of violence on city buses

“Our transit operators are seeing increased incidents on the buses, whether it be violence, intoxicated passengers, illicit drug use on the buses or the unhoused riding around aimlessly,” union President Darcy Pederson told...

By Stacey Hein Multi-Skilled Jourlist CTV News Saskatoon

A Saskatoon woman said she has safety concerns with city transit after she was assaulted and robbed on her way home from work.

After riding the bus in Saskatoon for decades, Kathy Sinclair says she’s seeing more violence in recent years.

“It’s getting scary nowadays,” she said.

Sinclair said she’s been assaulted twice, first on the bus, and then at a bus stop on Confederation Drive, where she was also robbed.

RELATED STORIES

• Saskatoon Transit asking to hire 6 support officers to patrol buses
• 'It's horrible taking a bus in this city': Saskatoon councillors commit to funding transit social support workers
• Saskatoon bus drivers facing 'major crisis' of escalating violence, union says

“I’m just concerned for everybody who takes the bus, you know, that they don’t have to go through what I’ve been through.”

The City of Saskatoon has set aside $482,600 in this year’s budget to recruit six transit support workers to help curb violence and monitor incidents.

“I think it will help having a uniformed presence in buses and around the bus stops and terminals,” said Darcy Pederson, president of the Amalgamated Transit Union.

The City of Saskatoon told CTV News the Saskatoon Fire Department will assist the transit support program.

In a statement the fire department said it is still working on the details.

“The preliminary plan, using data provided by transit and fire support workers, will see a presence in targeted areas and on routes where incidents are occurring more frequently,” the statement said.

Pederson says the team is set to begin in July, but the sooner the better.

“We would love to see them out there right now, because the assaults on our bus drivers and riding public are just increasing,” he said.

Sinclair doesn’t think six people will be enough to keep the community safe....

By Hayatullah Amanat Web Jourlaist CTV News

Saskatoon police are investigating an assault on a city bus after an 18-year-old man was stabbed on Wednesday afternoon.

At around 5:43 p.m., officers responded to a report of a stabbing on a city bus at the intersection 12th street East and Broadway Avenue, the Saskatoon Police Service said in a release.

Police said the suspect had fled the scene before officers got there.

“Arriving officers observed the victim being attended by Medavie Health Services and Saskatoon Fire,” police said.

injured teen was taken to hospital and police believe he is recovering in “stable condition.”

Last month, Saskatoon's Transit Union (came forward with complaints of escalating violence on city buses.

According to the president of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 615, in recent months drivers have reported being punched, kicked and spat on while serving the public.

Bus riders have come forward with similar complaints as well.

In February, a Saskatoon woman said she was assaulred and robbed while waiting for the bus on her way home from work.

In a statement on Thursday, Saskatoon Transit said it takes all incidents of violence on the transit system very seriously.

“Since negative interactions began to rise, uniformed Saskatoon Transit supervisors have been riding on routes, which have greater frequency of negative interactions,” the statement said. “Last month, more than 100 supervisor ride-alongs were performed across the transit system.

The city says beginning on July 1, community support officers will be placed in targeted areas and on routes where incidents occur more frequently.

The “enhanced” community support program, formerly run by the downtown business improvement district, has been put in the hands of the Saskatoon Fire Department, the statement said.

Saskatoon Transit says commissionaires have been placed on increased patrol in the downtown terminal to align with bus arrivals, occasionally flanked by transit supervisors.

“Patrols have also been expanded to the Market Mall and Confederation Mall terminals.”

CTV News has contacted the transit union for comment and is waiting for a response.

ORIGINAL ARTICLE CTV NEWS

An 18-year-old man was stabbed on a bus in Saskatoon Wednesday around 5:30 p.m. CST on Broadway Avenue.

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HB 571 is a dangerous attack on Louisiana’s working families and some of our legislators voted to ram it through the house. 

The Saskatoon Police Service is continuing to investigate following an assault that occurred Wednesday afternoon. 

At 5:43 p.m., May 1st, 2024, officers responded to a call of a person who had been stabbed on a city bus at the intersection 12th street East and Broadway Avenue. 

Arriving officers observed the victim being attended by Medavie Health Services and Saskatoon Fire. The suspect had fled the scene prior to police arrival. 

The 18-year-old male victim was taken to hospital where he is believed to be recovering in stable condition. 

The Saskatoon Police Serious Assualt Unit is investigating. 

Carla Shynkaruk Mulit-Skilled Journalist CTV News

The union representing the city’s bus drivers says violence against transit workers is out of control.

The Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 615 and the Saskatchewan Federation of Labour (SFL) say they want something done to protect transit employees.

The city says plans have been put into place to address the threat to worker safety, but workers say it can’t come soon enough.

For lifetime transit rider Elizabeth Dyck, taking the bus has been her sole means of transportation for most of her life, and it’s troubling to her how safety has changed over the years.

"The last 10 years have been very different, there’s fighting on the bus, people are not paying their fares, as you can see people aren’t respecting the transit houses,” Dyck told CTV News.

The ATU and SFL released a letter Tuesday morning because of a recent surge in violent events where drivers were punched, kicked, and spat on.

“As a matter of fact, last night we had another assault on one of our drivers. He was asked a simple question, answered it and the passenger reached around the barrier and punched him in the face,” said Darcy Pederson, president of the ATU Local 615.

According to Pederson, drivers have also seen knives and even guns brought onto busses.

In a statement to CTV News, the city acknowledged there have been recent issues.

“The transit administration acknowledges there recently were a number of negative interactions and they take them seriously. Several initiatives have been introduced in the last 12 months to improve safety for employees and the public in transit spaces,” the statement said.

“Processes are also in place to support staff after incidents occur.”

Pederson has his own ideas about how to tackle the problem.

“I think we can clean up the terminal, get better cameras, getting more enforcement officer would be good. Someone who can enforce the rules,” he said.

City administration said more support officers have been put into place, with more on the way July 1.

Administration says negative interactions on transit is a Canada-wide issue.

This graph shows the rates of negative interactions on transit in Saskatoon since 2019:

Pederson has been a bus driver for 21 years. He says gone are the days where passenger and driver knew each other and had a positive relationship.

“You knew where they were going and now we’re in a situation where every time we pick up a passenger, we’re not sure if that passenger is going to punch us in the face or not.”

According to...

Drivers afraid to come to work, says local union president.

Saskatoon transit drivers say they are subjected to a litany of abuse by their passengers, from fare-disputes to aggressive behaviour and even assault.

Darcy Pederson, president of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 615, which represents transit drivers in Saskatoon, said drivers are scared to go to work due to alarming cases of violence on buses.

"They're getting kicked, punched, spat on, threatened and bear-sprayed," he told CBC's Saskatoon Morning host Candice Lipski Tuesday morning. "We've seen, in recent months, knives and guns on the buses as well."

Pederson said the attacks have been random and are becoming more violent — not only against transit operators but also against the riding public.

This year, Saskatoon bus drivers have reported 31 incidents where they have had negative interactions with passengers, according to the city. These include acts of aggression, verbal altercations, intoxication, assault and discharge of bodily fluids.

"Transit agencies just don't care about front-line workers, as it appears they believe that violence is an occupational hazard, which is far from the truth," Pederson told CBC in an earlier statement. 

On Tuesday, Saskatoon Mayor Charlie Clark said he believes violent incidents on buses are linked to the city's toxic drug crisis.

"Saskatoon in many ways is a place that more and more people from across the province end up coming to because we have more services," he said. "It is overwhelming our systems."

Clark said the city needs more supportive housing to help people with complex needs.

"We really need help from the provincial and the federal government to be able to meet the needs of people who are struggling right now," he said.

He added that the city has increased patrolling efforts and is installing safety shields to protect bus drivers. 

The city also aims to expand its community support officer (CSO) program on July 1, putting CSOs in targeted areas and on bus routes that see the most incidents.

Pederson said that's a start, but that the city needs to have zero tolerance for physical and verbal abuse of drivers. 

"We need to make [drivers] aware of the situations that are taking place and provide some extra training, mental health and addiction-support training, and stronger enforcement of the Criminal Code," he said. 

The City of Saskatoon said in a statement to CBC News that incidents on public transit are increasing all over Canada.

Union President says violence towards drivers, public on transit is growing

Saskatoon's bus drivers' union is once again speaking up about violence on the city's transit system.

It comes in the wake of a stabbing on a bus in Saskatoon. Police said it happened Wednesday around 5:30 p.m. CST. 

An 18-year-old man was stabbed at 12th Street East and Broadway Avenue. He was taken to hospital and is "believed to be in stable condition."

The suspect fled the scene before police arrived and the serious assault unit is investigating.  

According to the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU), an argument got physical and led to one person being stabbed and taken to the hospital. The perpetuator fled the scene, it said. 

"These occurrences are happening more and more and this is an example of what we're seeing, said Darcy Pederson, president of ATU Local 615.

"Last week we saw an assault on a passenger and we also saw an assault on an operator," he said. 

There have been 143 assaults on Saskatoon transit buses so far this year, Pederson said, and that number is higher than the total number of assaults on buses all of last year. 

Last week we had a bus operator get assaulted for answering a question. Someone reached around the barrier and punched him in the face because the passenger didn't like the the answer."

He said he wants people to understand that the transit system has a zero-tolerance policy against violence. 

"We just need them to stand behind that and stand behind our work, our members, and provide a safe working and riding environment for our operators and the riding public," he said. 

CBC Saskatoon has previously reported on increasing violence and calls for safety policies on buses. 

"They're getting kicked, punched, spat on, threatened and bear-sprayed," Pederson told CBC's Saskatoon Morning host Candice Lipski in April. "We've seen, in recent months, knives and guns on the buses as well."

Pederson said the attacks have been random and are becoming more violent — not only against transit operators but also against the riding public.

Saskatoon Mayor Charlie Clark said in an interview last month that he believes violent incidents on buses are linked to the city's toxic drug crisis.

"Saskatoon in many ways is a place that more and more people from across the province end up coming to because we have more services," he said. "It is overwhelming our systems."

Clark said the city needs more supportive housing to help people with complex needs.

ORINGAL ARTICLE ( CBC News )